Rubber block for plate type clutches



Septll, 1951 H. c. GOODCHILD RUBBER BLOCK FOR PLATE TYPE cx u'rcmzs Filed Nov. 14, 1947 HTTUENEV Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUBBER BLOCK FOR PLATE TYPE CLUTCHES Henry C. Goodchild, Los Angeies, Calif.

Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 785,975

used, generally, where it is desired to transmit.

power as for instance from one revolving member to another. Since the construction of the present invention is particularly suited for use in motor vehicles and the like where it may be employed in effecting drive from the engine to the propeller shaft, I have elected to illustrate a form of adaptation of the present invention particularly suitable for this particular class of use. However, I wish it understood that such reference is not to be taken as limiting or restricting the invention in any way.

Clutch-es have long been used where it is desired to transmit power or force from one rotatable member to another and they are a well recognized element of motor vehicles where they are employed to couple the prime mover or engine with the propeller shaft which, in turn,

drives the wheels, usually the rear wheels. In this particular field various forms of clutches have been employed. However, it has been found that plate type clutches are most generally satisfactory, although their action is not always as smooth and soft as is desired. Attempts have been made to overcome the disadvantages experienced with plate-type clutches but as far as i am aware it has heretofore been found that the ordinary or simple flat plate construction is about as satisfactory as are more elaborate constructions that have been proposed.

It is a general object of my present invention to provide a plate type clutch of simple, inexpensive manufacture, in fact, of manufacture comparable to ordinary clutches of this character, but which is such as to establish progressive frictional engagement between the joined parts whereby the engagement of the clutch is smooth and without grabbing or jerking action. With the construction of the present invention the gripping surface or surfaces included in the clutch are increased in extent as the clutch is engaged from a minimum when the clutch is first engaged, to a maximrun when the clutch is fully engaged, as distinguished from the usual clutch engagement where the entire clutch surface or surfaces are engaged from th time the clutching action is initiated until it is completed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clutch of the general character referred 6 Claims. (01. 267-63) to wherein the gripping action is gained through the use of a plurality of individual shoes which are such as to individually couple the parts to be connected and are so arranged and related as to provide asmooth, balanced clutch action.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a clutch of the'genera-l character referred to including resilient shoes or resiliently mounted shoes deflected from an angular position relative to the gripping faces of the con-- gradually increases until final full clutching engagement is established.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clutch of the general character referred to including friction shoes supported through a cushion mounting so that the gradual or cushioned" engagement of the shoes themselves is supplemented by the action of the structure through which the shoes are supported.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a clutch between an engine and a propeller shaft, which clutch involves the construction provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a face or front view of the frictional element of the clutch showing certain portions thereof broken away to illustrate details of construction, and being a view taken in the direction indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of'the other side of the frictional elementtaken in the direction indicated by line 3--3 on Fig. 1'. Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4+4'on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the frictional element taken as indi- 9 is a perspective view of one of the cushions employed in the present invention.

The plate type clutch that I have illustrated in the drawings, being of the type commonly employed in motor vehicles, is shown as including a drive element A, a friction element B, a pressure element 0, and operating means D for the pressure element. In the case illustrated the drive element A is shown as the fly-wheel In of an engine and is fixed on the end of an engine shaft The friction element B is shown carried by or having driving engagement with a propeller shaft |2 which shaft has a forward extension I3 mounted in a bearing I4 in the end of the engine shaft II. The pressure element C is shown as an annular part or clamp plate carried by the fly-Wheel 13 through a suitable cage l5 and cooperates with the fly-wheel in gripping the friction element B.

In accordance with conventional construction the fly-wheel is shown with a fiat finished face IE to be engaged by the frictional element and the pressure element C is shown provided with a flat finished face ll that opposes the face IS, the frictional element being arranged between the faces I6 and IT. The operating means D actuates the pressure element toward and away from the fly-wheel to grip or release the frictional element as desired. In the particular case illustrated the means D involves a plurality of springs l8 supported by the cage I5 and normally yieldingly urging the pressure element toward the flywheel so that the frictional element is normally gripped between the pressure element and flywheel. The operating means further includes one or more elements of a releasing mechanism |9 operable to shift the pressure element away from the fly-wheel against the resistance of the springs |8. It is to beunderstood that the elements and action of means D may be that common to clutches employed in motor vehicles.

The frictional element B of the clutch includes features of construction provided by the present invention and this element of the mechanism may be considered as including, generally, a hub 20, a flange 2| projecting radially from the hub, a ring or annular element 22 coupled to the flange 2| by cushioning means 23, and friction shoes 24 carried by the ring 22 through necks 25.

The hub is applicable to or is mounted on the propeller shaft |2 which is the driven element of the construction, while the flange 2| is preferably fixed or rigidly joined to the hub to project radially therefrom. The ring 22 may be a simple one-piece construction or it may be a fabricated structure as I will hereinafter describe, and it'is supported on the flange through the cushioning means 23. The cushioning means 23 involves a plurality of circumferentially spaced units which are alike and which resiliently couple the ring 22 with the flange 2| in a manner to allow limited cushioned rotation of the ring relative to the flange. The shoes 24 are friction elements that engage and cooperate with the faces 5 and ll of the elements A and C, respectively, and are preferably arcuate segmental members of equal size and shape and symmetrically a'rrangedabout the center of the structure. The necks 25 are preferably such that there is but one neck for each shoe 24 and the necks support the shoes from the flange 2| through the ring 22 inthe manner hereinafter described.

The hub 28 is a sleeve-like part surrounding the propeller shaft l2 and is preferably keyed or splined thereto to establish the desired driving engagement between the hub and the shaft. In the particular case illustrated it is desirable that the element B should be free to shift bodily in an axial direction relative to the other parts, and therefore, I have shown the hub 20 mounted on the shaft l2 through a spline construction allowbetween these parts.

ing free axial shifting of the hub on the shaft while maintaining positive driving engagement In the construction illustrated teeth 26 are provided in the hub to mesh with teeth 21 on the shaft l2.

The flange 2| is preferably a flat-sided or platelike part projecting radially irom the hub and having its periphery 3H curved concentric with the axis of the hub. It is desirable that the flange 2| be rigid with the hub 2E) and it may be formed integrally therewith, as shown in the drawings. The particular flange 2| illustrated in the drawings has a flat side 3| which is smooth and uninterrupted from the hub to the periphery 30. The other side 32 of the flange has a recess 33 in it extending inwardly from the periphery to accommodate a part of the ring 22.

Openings 34 are provided in or through the flange 2| to accommodate units of the cushioning means 23. In the particular case illustrated the openings 34 are substantially rectangular in shape or form and have parallel end edges 35 and parallel inner and outer edges 36. The flange 2| is further provided with openings to accommodate parts of the ring 22 and when the ring is in the form shown in the drawings the openings in the flange may be notches 3! entering the flange 2| from its periphery 30 and circumferentially spaced and proportioned to pass parts of the ring 22 with clearance, as will be hereinafter described.

The ring 22 may be a simple, annular element coupling the shoes to the flange 2|, or it may, as I have shown in the drawings, be a structure involving or including a shoe plate 40, a secondary plate 4| and couplings 42 joining the plates and accommodated by the openings 31 in the flange 2|. shoe plate 40 is a large annular element arranged at the side 3| of flange 2| and having a central opening 43 accommodating the hub 23. The Deripheral portion of the plate 4|] projects somewhat beyond or radially outward of the periphery of flange 2| and its periphery 45 may be curved concentric with the axis of the structure except Where it is occupied by the necks 25. The secondary plate 4| of the ring 22 is arranged at the side 32 of the flange 2| where it is received in the recess 33 provided in side 32.

The couplings 42 that join or connect the plates 40 and 4| are such as to rigidly and firmly connect the plates so that they form a rigid forcetransmitting structure that is annular in form and which embraces the peripheral portion of the flange 2|. In the particular case illustrated the couplings are shown as posts extending between the plates 40 and 4|, the posts being shown pro vided with heads 41 positively retaining the plates in the desired coupled relationship.

The plate 40 of the ring 22 is provided with a plurality of openings 56 corresponding in shape and location with the openings 34 in the flange 2|. In like manner the plate 4| is provided with openings 5| registering with the openings 34. The openings 5| in the plate 4| are shown as notches entering the plate from its inner periphery 52. It will be apparent from the drawings that the openings 50 and 5| in the plates 46 and 4|, respectively, correspond in size, shape and arrangement with the openings 34 in the flange 2|, thus establishing openings through the assembly of the ring and flange suitable for accommodating units of the cushioning means 23.

The cushioning means 23 involves a plurality of like units or cushions accommodated in or car- In the particular case illustrated the -.5 bmtheppeningstthnougrrtheassemblyeofsthe mange andr'mg u. :iEaoham-it ro'fsthemeans-lfl gpre'ferablyaincludesaawhody lill.ofrcnshioning matewroccupyiing #13118 rzregistering sopenings .in the aflange and bodieslformdrivekeys beiitweermshering; ZtandF-thefiangeZ-Il througnwhich forcessare'acemmunicated. i-Each. unit of runeans eflgpreferablylmcludes;inaadditionetosthe cushioning bodyiifl bearing plates fi-l -lwhichqcover or occupy the ends63 of the body. In practice-the;

abedyaill-iismrefenably rformedr ofl-rubber or a rubabcr like material-, whiclr-might :be injured .or-cuthy -the.; en'd gdggesgpresentedaat the openings iormed tin ithe-flange'andgzlatessand therefore zitiis desir- 'rablezrto gemplewtheobearing- .gplatessi-l which are case illustrated the retainer 65'is -a'spool' shaped element and i-nvolvcs ashank 56 'that extends througlnthe body 60 fromeonesplate of the ring to ztherothermziieads or enlargements filrzarei lprotwidedton the ends of the shank-'afifizto proiectifrom nrziaeyondathe body 60 to ovenlie-rthe outerrsides sliftithezplates 401 and 41 thusgproviding zpositive nneanschecking lateral or axial'rdisplacement zof :thezbodyfrom operat ngposition. :In practice sthe dimly? be a molded-pmember, sayi forrzin- 'zstance,.anmolded body of rubber ror thez li'kegin which case it maycbeadvantageously formed with an opening 81 'to pass-the shank 56 and with recesses '88 at its sides taccommodate the headsl' filf. a h

The shoes 24 are arcuate or segmental members, preferably equal in size and shape, and are supported from the ring 22 through the necks 25 so that they form an annular assembly fitting between the faces IB and I! of elements A and C. In the particular case illustrated I show four shoes 24 in which case each shoe extends through an arc of slightly less than 90".

Each shoe 24 preferably includes a flat platelike body faced to have the desired frictional action. It is preferred that the body 10 of the shoe be faced on each "side with a friction facing H such as is commonly employed in clutches of the general character underconsideration. It is to be understood that the bodies of frictional facing H may correspond in size and shape with the sides of the body 10 of the shoe and it will be understood that the facings may be secured on the body in any desired manner. In thedrawings I have shown suitable rivet fasteners 12 securing the facings II on thebody 10.

The necks 25 support the shoes 24 in the desired annular arrangement from the periphery of the ring 22. In the particular case illustrated there is a single neck 25 for each shoe 24 and the several necks connect the shoes with the outer peripheral portion of plate 40. In accordance with my invention the neck 25 for each shoe connects to the inner peripheral portion of the shoe body 10 intermediate its ends leaving the body withpontionstof fzcorrsiderable gzcirnum- *ferential -.-extent mrojenting r in neither 'iE :which case thexshoe I balanced .:in-i. eitherdirecrtion relative to the meek.

t lnraccordance with my presentmv'ention'lthe necks are :such as tornormally ssupportlthe shoes from the ring 22 and between the members iii A and C so thatvthey yare'ldeflected somewhat from the planes of :thezfaces l6 andafl i of "mem- ";bers AandC. This angulartpositioning or deflection: of 'athe gshoesiz kmaydbe gained: by, providing shoes are normally. 'angularly related;or inclined iascclearly shown; inLFig; czzofwtheldrawings. In accordance with lthezpref'erred form: of myl inven tion the; plate All :of 'ring :22 e and thetbodies "H3 or the @severalr; shoes :and :thecseveral :lnecks 2 5 vtarewallformed of :a'zsingle integral or continuous ibody ofimaterialz andJI' prefer to r employfashee't .steel ;or thelikegso that the .miittinvolving't-these parts has suitable iinherentresilience. t: A zzpermanent qzset "is 3 established iinitt-he '..-.u-nit .linvolving .thewsaid pantsrgiv-ing thevshoes zdzrthelpitched or inclined '1 relationship :hereinabove described and illustrated in theiidraiwings. xlntpracti'c'e: the pitch *or inclination :of: theiishoes isva'like: for- ;the several .shoesvand is-rsuch that i a's theiclutch issengage'd the leading .zorgforwardirendtportion o'f each shoe 'contactsonly sthe face ,laoeof member- A :which' :is movingforwardioriawayiromfthe sa'id ends' o'f the shoes, awhile the aother ivorstrailingz' ends :of the shoes: first engage only'rtheitface .I I :of the mem- In the operationeof itheidevice,asagripping engagement is established lthewf'rictionalelement B bearing thexshoesifl'liis picked :up and movedin :thefidireotionsof-element 5A and? in riturn' pick's up :an'd carries with 1mm: the Jsameidirectionwthe=eleunentrfi. 'lrssthe pressurewe'lementsfi advancestowardzthezelement shcesiareldeflected' om theirsinclinede aorcpitched positions gradually in- *creasing the, frictional engagement ':between 'the parts-mntil: such iitiimeraszthesshoes fare idefleiited into the planes of the surfaces l6 and II, where-- upon there is full frictional engagement between the shoes and the members A and C. Since the bodies 10 of the shoes are made of the same material as the necks 25 there may, in practice, be some bending or deflection of the shoes themselves as driving engagement is established, making it unnecessary that the necks take all of the required deflection.

It will be apparent that as the element B is set in motion through the clutching action above described, torque is communicated to the shaft l2 through the structure of element B, which includes the cushioning means 23. The cushioning means 23 as hereinabove described provides a shock absorbing construction between the ring 22 and the flange 2| that will soften or cushion the clutching action. By combining the deflected shoes 24 which have a gradual and consequently soft smooth clutching action, with the cushioned construction between the plate 22 and flange 2|, these elements of the structure act in series or one through the other, so that the overall clutching action of the structure is exceptionally smooth and gradual and yet is positive and firm when the mechanism is fully set. By providing the cushioning means 23 any tendency for the shoes to chatter or grab is dampened, if not completely eliminated, with the result that z the mechanism that I have provided is such that loverlyin the body adjacent said side thereof.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims. 7

Having described my invention, I claim:

1 -1. A clutch cushion of the character described including, a body of rubber in the form of a block with a flat side, and a retaining spool carried by the body having a shank engaging the said side of the body and heads on the ends of the shank projecting from the body at said side and partially contacting said body adjacent said side.

2. A clutch cushion of the character described including, a body of rubber in the form of a flat sided block with a notch in one side, and a retaining spool carried by the body having a shank engaged in the notch in said side of the body and heads on the ends of the shank with portions thereof projecting from the body at said side and with otherportions contacting the body adjacent said side thereof.

3. A clutch cushion of the character described including, a body of rubber in'the form of a rectangular block, bearing plates engaging opposite ends of the body, and a retaining spool carried by the body at the exterior thereof and spaced from said plates, said spool having a shank engaging the body and heads on theends of the shank with portions engaging the body and por tions projecting from the body.

4. A clutch cushion of the character described including,. an elongated block shaped body of rubber with a notch in one side, bearing plates engaging the ends of the body, and a retaining i'speel carried by the body at said side thereof and having a shank engaged in the notch in said side of the body and heads on the ends of the shank partially projecting from the body and partially 5. A clutch'cushion-of the characterdescribed including, an elongated flat sided body of rubber, bearing'plates at the ends of the body and bearing thereon, and a retaining spool carried by the body having a shank engaging one side of the body and heads on the ends of the shank projecting-from the body and overlying opposite sides of the bddy adjacent the first mentioned side thereof, the bearing plates having ears overlying sides of the body.

6. A clutch cushion of the character described including, an elongatedilat sidedbody of rubber with flat ends and a notch in' one's'id'e, bearing platesseated'on the ends of the body and extending substantially at right angles to'the side in which said notch is located, and a retaining spool carried by the body at the notched side thereof and having a shank engaged-in the notch in said sideof' the body'and heads on the'ends of'the shank with portions overlying opposite sides of the body that are adjacent "the notched'side'of the body and with portions projecting from the notched side of the body, each bearing plate having'ears overlying the sides of thebody engaged by the heads of the spool.

; HENRY c. GooDoHiLD.

REFERENCES CITED 2 The following references are of record the file of, this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Dec; 20, 1939 

